Press Releases

Murray: “Since the beginning of our response efforts I’ve made two things clear: we need to address this as the public health crisis it is, and the people who are most directly impacted—health care workers, families, communities, small businesses—must be put first, not...

Last week, President Trump announced that he would waive student loan interest, acknowledging how relief for student loan borrowers must be part of our coronavirus response   Murray, Senate Democrats urged Secretary DeVos to use her existing authority to do more to provide immediate relief for  borrowers and help the...

Senator Murray asks the Health Department’s Inspector General to investigate the Trump Administration’s flawed efforts to develop, deploy, and analyze diagnostic tests for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus   Murray: “We must understand where HHS has erred in this process and implement lessons learned as soon as possible to mitigate...

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2020 — The Chairmen of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee today released the following statements on provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to keep Americans healthy and help families, workers, and schools during the COVID-19...

Sens. Schumer, Murray, Brown, And Warren’s New Proposal Would Provide Immediate, Much-Needed Relief To Federal Student Loan Borrowers Through Minimum $10K In Student Loan Payments   New Proposal Would Authorize Congress To Make Monthly Payments On Behalf Of Borrowers For Duration Of National Emergency And Be Followed By 3-Month Grace...

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2020 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after he voted for and the Senate passed, by a vote of 90-8, a second piece of legislation to address the COVID-19 outbreak: “We are here not as Democrats and Republicans, but we are here to work together to do whatever we...

In remarks on the Senate floor, Murray promises to continue pushing for paid sick days and medical leave provision in the next coronavirus response package   Senator Murray: “While I'm glad we finally passed this second round of relief, there continues to be an enormous amount we've got to do to ensure that workers, families, those on...

PAID Leave Act builds on bipartisan agreement in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to ensure U.S. has a federal paid leave policy    Under new PAID Leave Act, all workers will be allowed to take advantage of 14 paid sick days and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave   Bill will fully and quickly reimburse...

Senator Murray supports both Democratic nominees, highlighting their extensive experience and qualifications   Nominations come after years of Republican obstruction has left both agencies unbalanced   Murray: “I’m relieved that these nominations have finally arrived, but let me be perfectly clear—it should never have...

Legislation Would Provide Free Diagnostic Testing and Related Health Care Services for Americans Receiving Tests to Confirm Coronavirus Infection   (Washington, D.C.) –Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senators Tina Smith...

MARYVILLE, Tennessee, March 13, 2020 — Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced actions to help address diagnostic testing for the COVID-19 outbreak: “The Trump Administration’s actions yesterday are the type of...

Yesterday Sen. Murray sent Vice President Pence a letter calling on him to appoint an individual solely responsible for immediately improving testing efforts   The Administration has since announced Admiral Giroir, HHS Assistant Secretary, will be in charge of testing efforts among public health service agencies   Murray to Pence:...

Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act will provide resources to assist early childhood programs, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher education     The bill follows Senator Murray’s ongoing efforts to push the Department of Education to provide guidance to schools in the wake of widespread school...

WASHINGTON – Amid the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), along with a group of nine Senators, today introduced the Commission on America’s Medical Security, bipartisan legislation to safeguard America’s medical supply chain and address shortages due to the United...

DOL finalizes rule to create duplicative industry-recognized apprenticeship that don’t include the same crucial protections as registered apprenticeships   Senator Murray: “This rule undermines Registered Apprenticeship Programs in favor of an untested system that that lacks sufficient accountability and crucial worker...

Senators: "Pregnant people have historically been left out of research agendas and clinical trials due to the added complexities of ensuring their safety and that of their children"   Senators: "We urge you to account for the unique risks and concerns of populations that have historically been excluded from pandemic research...

As coronavirus continues to impact workers, Department of Labor still absent from the President’s Coronavirus Task Force   Murray, Democrats push Secretary of Labor Scalia for answers, urge him to advocate for workers   Senators: “We call on you – as the lead federal government official responsible for the protection and...

Murray, Democrats push for DeVos to address school lunches, online learning, and federal financial aid and student loans   Senators: “We urge the U.S. Department of Education to consider several serious issues related to school closure.”   (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the...

(Washington, D.C.) – Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter today to Vice President Pence regarding the mass confusion and lack of clarity around the availability of coronavirus testing and out-of-pocket...

Murray, DeLauro bill would immediately require employers to provide workers with 14 days of paid sick leave to be used during a public health emergency, including current crisis   Everett, WA: “Paid sick leave an effective tool against Covid-19, ” The Herald Editorial Board   Orlando, FL: “Coronavirus sick time: Congress...